JP4032847B2 - Thermal printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a configuration of a thermal printing apparatus capable of printing on copy paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a thermal head is pressed against a paper (thermal paper) having a heat-sensitive layer formed on one side, and a desired image can be formed on the heat-sensitive layer by selectively heating with a heating element of the head. Thermal printing apparatuses (for example, thermal printers) are known.
[0003]
Then, as a recording medium (paper) used in the thermal printing apparatus, two sheets of paper (an upper sheet on which the surface is a heat-sensitive coloring surface and carbon ink is applied on the back side, and the carbon ink on the back side of the upper sheet are transferred There is a so-called copy cut paper in which a sheet of paper is glued together to form a set of two sheets.
In this copy cut paper, rectangular upper paper and lower paper are glued on at least one side thereof, and the glued portion is set in the paper feeding section of the printing apparatus with the glued portion facing the leading side in the paper transport direction. When the apparatus starts the printing operation, the copy cut sheets are conveyed in the printing apparatus by an appropriate conveying means such as a roller provided in the apparatus in a state where the two sheets are stacked together. Sent. Then, the thermal head is brought into contact with the upper surface of the two sheets of the stacked paper and heated to perform thermal recording on the upper paper and transfer of the carbon ink on the back surface of the upper paper at the same time. The same image can be formed on the paper.
The copy cut paper after printing is discharged to the paper discharge unit of the apparatus while being stacked. The discharged paper is peeled off from the glued portion and used separately.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration as described above, the copy cut paper is warped when being conveyed inside the apparatus, and is often discharged onto the paper discharge unit in a curled state.
[0005]
This curling will be described with reference to FIG. The conventional printer apparatus in FIG. 5 is a platen roller that conveys a sheet 30 (a copy cut sheet in which an upper sheet 31 and a lower sheet 32 are made into a set) by rotating between the sheet guide 17 and the sheet guide 17. 16 and a thermal head 15 for performing thermal recording on the copy cut paper 30 fed by the platen roller 16 as usual.
The copy cut paper 30 after the thermal recording by the heating element 15a of the thermal head 15 is fed toward the paper discharge port 23 while being guided by the paper discharge guide surface 13b of the guide member 13. However, since the paper discharge guide surface 13b is inclined with respect to the feeding direction of the copy cut paper 30 by the platen roller 16, the copy cut paper 30 is curved after recording by the thermal head 15. Become.
[0006]
In this way, the copy cut sheet 30 is conveyed while being curved (warped), but on the upstream side (the end side in the conveyance direction) of the copy cut sheet 30, thermal recording by the thermal head 15 is continued in parallel therewith. Yes.
This is because when the copy cut paper 30 is warped and heated at the contact portion of the heating element 15a, the carbon ink for transfer to the lower paper 32 melts and bonds between the papers 31 and 32. This means that the paper 31 and 32 are fixed (with the copy cut paper 30 being curved).
The curved state thus fixed can no longer be easily released, and as a result, the copy cut paper 30 is discharged from the paper discharge port 23 in a strong curled state as shown in FIG. Therefore, the copy cut paper 30 is curled and bulky on the paper discharge unit, and if the degree of curvature is strong, the printed content cannot be confirmed unless it is straightened out by hand, or rolled from the paper discharge unit and other There was a problem of going to a place.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.
[0008]
That is, in the first aspect, a sheet feeding section, a thermal head for performing thermal recording and come in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit, fed from the contact position in contact with the thermal head A guide member formed so that a guide surface that contacts a non-recording surface of the recording medium and guides a conveyance direction of the recording medium intersects a path through which the recording medium is sent out from the contact position; and the thermal head and a said guide member bent portion provided for bending the recording medium body sent from the side, the bending portion is downstream of said guide surface with respect to the transport direction in the guide member, wherein and formed protrusion so as to protrude toward the recording medium conveyed while being guided by the guide surface, the guide surface on the recording medium conveyed while being guided previous As the non-recording surface along the convex portion is bent in a direction on the inside, in which and a pressing member for pressing the recording medium against the convex portion in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium .
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a groove is formed in the guide member at a position adjacent to the downstream side of the guide surface in the transport direction, and the convex portion is formed at a boundary portion between the groove and the guide surface. Is. In Claim 3, the said pressing member has the extension part extended toward the downstream of the said conveyance direction so as to oppose the inner surface of the said groove | channel, The said extension part and the inner surface of the said groove | channel The recording medium is pressed against the convex portion only in the interval. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the pressing member is formed in an elastically deformable film shape.
[0010]
In Claim 5 , the said groove | channel has V shape regarding the cross section parallel to the said conveyance direction and perpendicular | vertical to the said guide surface, and the part including the said extension part in the said pressing member is V shape of the said groove | channel. It extends in parallel to the surface closer to the guide surface of the inner surface of the shape.
[0011]
7. The paper feeding unit according to claim 6, wherein the one surface is a recording surface and the upper surface is coated with carbon ink on the other surface, and the lower paper on which the carbon ink coated on the other surface is transferred. The recording medium on which is superimposed is sent out.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the invention will be described.
First, the schematic structure of the printer apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of a printing mechanism portion of the printer apparatus.
[0013]
The printer device 1 of the present embodiment has a rectangular configuration (a size of about A6 to A7 size) in a plan view and a compact configuration with a thickness of about 2 cm or less.
The main body case 2 of the printer apparatus 1 is formed by covering the lower surface of the frame 3 with the lower cover 4 and partially covering the upper surface with the upper cover 5.
[0014]
In the remaining portion of the upper surface side of the frame 3 except for the portion covered with the upper cover 5, a paper storage portion (paper feeding portion) 6 is formed. In the paper storage unit 6, a paper package 9 in which a plurality of A6 to A7 size cut sheet-like thermal paper (image recording medium) 30 is stored in the package material 8 can be stored in the paper storage unit 6. In the present embodiment, the thermal paper 30 is the same as that described in the section of the prior art. The upper paper 31 has a thermal coloring surface and a carbon ink applied to the rear surface, and the upper paper rear surface. A known copy cut paper is used in which a pair of sheets is glued to the lower paper 32 onto which the carbon ink is transferred.
[0015]
The upper part of the paper storage unit 6 is covered with a lid 10 that can be freely opened and closed. A lock mechanism (not shown) is provided on the main body case 2 side so that the lid 10 can be closed and locked in a state where the paper package 9 is set in the paper storage portion 6 as described above.
[0016]
A pickup roller 12 as a paper separating unit 11, a separation block 13, and the like are disposed at one end of the paper storage unit 6. Also, below the upper cover 5, a thermal head 15, a platen roller 16, and a paper guide 17 as a printing mechanism unit 14 described in detail later are disposed.
[0017]
The paper separation unit 11 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pickup roller 12 and a separation block 13 are provided at the end of the paper storage unit 6 on the side close to the printing mechanism unit 14. A pressing plate 18 is rotatably supported on the inner surface of the lid 10 facing the paper storage unit 6 side.
A coil-shaped biasing spring 19 is interposed between the pressing plate 18 and the lid body 10, and a biasing force in a direction to rotate the pressing plate 18 downward is always applied to the pressing plate 18. .
[0018]
The paper package 9 has a part of the lower surface of the lowermost copy cut paper 30 out of the package material 8 out of the copy cut paper 30 stored inside in a stacked state with the printing surface facing downward. The paper container 6 is set in an exposed state. When the lid 10 is closed and locked, the pressing plate 18 urged downward by the urging spring 19 causes the exposed portion of the copy cut paper 30 to pass through the package material 8. Pressing against the pickup roller 12 side, the lower surface of the copy cut paper 30 is brought into contact with the pickup roller 12.
[0019]
A separation block 13 is provided in the vicinity of the pickup roller 12, and the separation block 13 includes a separation guide surface 13 a inclined with respect to the sheet feeding direction of the pickup roller 12.
[0020]
With this configuration, when the pickup roller 12 is rotationally driven, a conveying force is applied to the lowermost copy cut paper 30 in contact with the pickup roller 12. Then, combined with the separation action of the separation guide surface 13a of the separation block 13, only one sheet (one set) of copy cut sheets 30 located at the lowermost layer is separated and sent out.
[0021]
Next, the printing mechanism unit 14 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a platen roller 16 is rotatably provided adjacent to the separation block 13, and a paper guide 17 is disposed close to the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The paper guide 17 is formed with a slidable contact surface 17 a having a concave curved cross section along the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 16. A pressing coil spring 20 is provided between the paper guide 17 and the main body case 2 so as to bias the sliding contact surface 17 a toward the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 16.
[0022]
In this configuration, the copy cut paper 30 separated by the paper separation unit 11 is conveyed by the pickup roller 12 to guide the lower end of the separation block 13 and the direction of the paper toward the platen roller 16. Pass between.
The copy cut paper 30 is guided by the guide plate 21 and is fed between the platen roller 16 and the paper guide 17 from the lower surface side of the platen roller 16. Then, the copy cut sheet 30 is conveyed while being reversed between the platen roller 16 and the slidable contact surface 17a of the paper guide 17 while being reversed in a horizontal U-shape by the rotational drive of the platen roller 16. Is directed to the upper surface side of the platen roller 16.
[0023]
The thermal head 15 located on the upper surface side of the platen roller 16 has a heating element portion 15a serving as a printing portion. The thermal head 15 is provided so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 15 b, and the heating element 15 a can be brought into contact with and separated from the upper surface of the platen roller 16.
The reason why the thermal head 15 is configured to be rotatable in this manner is that the thermal head 15 operates in the jam paper removing operation when the copy cut paper 30 is jammed between the platen roller 16 and the paper guide 17. This is so as not to get in the way.
[0024]
One end of a torsion coil spring type spring 22 is engaged with the thermal head 15, and the heating element 15 a of the thermal head 15 constantly applies a biasing force in the direction approaching the upper surface of the platen roller 16.
[0025]
With this configuration, as described above, the heating element 15a of the thermal head 15 contacts the upper surface of the copy cut paper 30 fed by the platen roller 16 with the printing surface (the heat sensitive color development surface of the upper paper 31) facing upward. Therefore, the upper paper 31 is colored to form a desired image. Along with this, the carbon ink applied to the back surface of the upper paper 31 is melted by the heat of the heating element 15a and transferred to the lower paper 32, and the same image as that formed on the upper paper 31 is Form on paper 32.
[0026]
The thermal head 15 is a line head type, and prints an arbitrary character or image for each line extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the copy cut paper 30 on the heat-sensitive copy cut paper 30 being transported. be able to. The printing width for printing one line is set to be approximately equal to the width of the copy cut paper 30 to be printed.
In this way, the thermal head 15 is used as a printing head by using thermal paper as an image recording medium, so that consumables such as ink and ink ribbon can be dispensed with and a mechanism for supplying ink can be omitted. This is because the printer device 1 can be made compact.
As the upper paper 31 of the copy cut paper 30, a thermal coloring type having a coloring layer that develops color by heating of the thermal head 15, or a thermal punching type in which a punching layer that is punched by heating is laminated on a base material layer. Various things can be used.
Further, the upper paper 31 may be of a thermal transfer type in which the front surface is an image receiving layer that receives ink transferred from an ink ribbon and the back surface is coated with carbon ink. In this case, the printer apparatus 1 needs a mechanism capable of mounting an ink ribbon.
[0027]
The separation block 13 is formed with a paper discharge guide surface 13b inclined with respect to the paper feed direction of the platen roller 16, and guides the paper conveyance direction on one side of the paper conveyance path.
In this configuration, the copy cut paper 30 after printing by the heating element portion 15a of the thermal head 15 is guided in the conveying direction by the paper discharge guide surface 13b, and the upper cover 5 and the lid of the main body case 2 are thus guided. Paper is discharged from the gap (discharge port 23) formed by the body 10 to the space above the lid 10 (paper output unit).
[0028]
Next, a bending portion for bending the paper conveyed toward the paper discharge portion while being guided by the paper discharge guide surface 13b will be described in detail with reference to an enlarged view of FIG.
That is, the separation block 13 has a V-shaped groove 40 formed at the upper end portion (the position on the most downstream side in the paper transport direction) of the paper discharge guide surface 13b rising obliquely. This groove (V-shaped groove) 40 is formed perpendicularly to the paper transport direction, and its length is set to be approximately equal to the width of the paper (copy cut paper) 30. A convex portion 41 is formed at a boundary portion between the V-shaped groove 40 and the paper discharge guide surface 13b.
[0029]
A support portion 42 is attached to the upper cover 5 at a position facing the paper discharge port 23. The support portion 42 is provided to face the paper discharge guide surface 13b of the separation block 13 with the paper transport path P interposed therebetween.
Then, one end side of a film-like pressing member 43 made of a material having appropriate elasticity (for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate) is fixed to the support portion 42.
The pressing member 43 is formed in a long and narrow rectangle, and is arranged over the entire width of the copy cut paper 30 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the paper transport direction.
The other end side of the pressing member 43 extends to the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the convex portion 41 while obliquely crossing the paper transport path P, and the tip thereof is positioned in the V-shaped groove 40. Therefore, when the copy cut sheet 30 passes through the convex portion 41, the extension portion of the pressing member 43 comes into contact with the copy cut sheet 30 in a planar shape (in a large area) and presses the copy cut sheet 30. become.
The bending portion described above is constituted by the pressing member 43 and the convex portion 41.
[0030]
FIG. 3 shows how printing is performed on the paper (copy cut paper) 30 with the above configuration. In this figure, the copy cut paper 30 is conveyed while being held between the platen roller 16 and the paper guide 17 with the portion glued between the upper paper 31 and the lower paper 32 facing the top. The Then, after printing is performed by bringing the heating element 15a of the thermal head 15 into contact with the thermal head 15, the platen roller 16 is fed out so as to be sent almost horizontally toward the separation block 13 side.
The leading end of the copy cut paper 30 that is sent comes into contact with the paper discharge guide surface 13b, and is fed toward the paper discharge port 23 while being guided by the paper discharge guide surface 13b. Here, since the paper discharge guide surface 13b is oriented obliquely with respect to the paper feed direction of the platen roller 16, the copy cut paper 30 has a leading side in contact with the paper discharge guide surface 13b as shown in FIG. Therefore, the warp 30a is exhibited between the thermal head 15 and the portion that contacts the thermal head 15.
[0031]
As described above, while the copy cut paper 30 is fed with the warp 30a, the thermal recording is performed by the heating element 15a in the portion of the thermal head 15. Accordingly, the carbon ink between the upper paper 31 and the lower paper 32 is melted by being heated by the heating element portion 15a, and is solidified in a state where the paper 31 and 32 are adhered. That is, the copy cut paper 30 is fixed by the carbon ink in a warped state.
As a result, the copy cut sheet 30 is conveyed in a curled state such that its leading side floats from the sheet discharge guide surface 13b as indicated by reference numeral x in FIG.
[0032]
However, after the leading end of the copy cut paper 30 comes into contact with the lower surface of the pressing member 43, it is guided while sliding on the lower surface side (reference symbol y → reference symbol z in FIG. 3). Sent to the unit 41. In other words, the pressing member 43 also serves as a guide for appropriately guiding the copy cut paper 30. As a result, the copy cut paper 30 passes through the convex portion 41 while elastically deforming the pressing member 43 so as to be pushed away.
FIG. 4 shows this passing state. In this state of FIG. 4, the pressing member 43 is a part of the copy cut paper 30 that has overcome the convex portion 41 by the restoring force (on the downstream side of the convex portion 41). The portion of the copy cut paper 30 is pressed from the opposite side of the separation block 13 as shown by the white arrow in the figure. As a result, the copy cut paper 30 is bent along the convex portion 41 at the convex portion 41 and bent in the direction opposite to the direction of the warp 30a, so that the paper 31 and 32 are bonded. The carbon ink is peeled off from the back surface of the upper paper 31, and the paper 31 and 32 are separated from each other.
[0033]
As described above, the warp of the copy cut paper 30 is eliminated by passing through the convex portion 41, and is sent to the paper discharge portion (space on the lid 10) in a straight state without curling.
Accordingly, the copy cut paper 30 to be discharged does not become bulky and does not roll from the paper discharge unit, so that it is convenient to handle the copy cut paper 30 after printing.
Even if the upper paper 31 and the lower paper 32 are bonded by carbon ink by heating by the thermal head 15, both the papers 31 and 32 are peeled again by the bending action by passing through the convex portion 41. Therefore, since the copy cut paper 30 sent to the paper discharge unit only needs to peel off the glued portion, the peeling work is easy.
[0034]
Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the bent portion is configured by the convex portion 41 and the pressing member 43, the bent portion can be configured with a simple configuration, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the pressing member 43 is configured in a film shape that can be elastically deformed, the pressing member 43 is elastically deformed and escapes as necessary when the copy cut paper 30 is transported. Don't get too big. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the pressing member from being damaged by pushing the copy cut paper 30 with an excessive force, or the copy cutting paper 30 cannot pass through the portion of the pressing member 43.
However, this configuration is only an example, and the configuration is not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment as long as it can be bent in the direction opposite to the warp direction of the copy cut paper 30 fed from the thermal head 15.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0036]
That is, as shown in claim 1, and a paper feeding unit, a thermal head for performing thermal recording and come in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit, fed from the contact position in contact with the thermal head A guide member that contacts a non-recording surface of the recording medium and guides the conveyance direction of the recording medium so as to intersect a path through which the recording medium is sent out from the contact position; and a said guide member bent portion provided for bending the recording medium body sent from the head side, the bending portion is downstream of said guide surface with respect to the transport direction in the guide member, and formed protrusion so as to protrude toward the recording medium conveyed while being guided by the guide surface, the conveyed while being guided by the guide surface recording medium before As the non-recording surface along the convex portion is bent in a direction on the inside and in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium is assumed to have a pressing member for pressing said recording medium against said protrusions So
As described above, the bent recording medium (copy cut paper) is bent in the opposite direction by the action of the bending portion, so that the upper paper and the lower paper bonded with the copying ink are peeled off by the bending portion. The As a result, the copy cut sheet is recovered from the curled state and is discharged to the paper discharge unit in a straight state. Therefore, the copy cut paper to be discharged is not bulky and does not roll from the paper discharge unit, so that it is convenient to handle the copy cut paper after printing.
In addition, since the adhesive between the upper paper and the lower paper due to the copy ink is discharged in a state where it has been peeled off in advance by the bending portion, when the upper paper and the lower paper are peeled off after printing on the copy cut paper, It is only necessary to peel off the glued portion, and the peeling work is easy.
Moreover, since a bending part can be comprised by the simple structure by a convex part and a pressing member, manufacturing cost can be reduced .
[0037]
[0038]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the pressing member has an extending portion extending toward the downstream side in the transport direction so as to face the inner surface of the groove, and the extending portion and the inner surface of the groove So that the recording medium is pressed against the convex portion only between
Since the front end of the pressing member extends downstream from the convex portion, the copy cut sheet as the recording medium is bent along the convex portion of the guide member, and the generated warp is reliably released. be able to.
[0039]
As shown in claim 4 , since the pressing member is configured in a film shape that can be elastically deformed,
Since the pressing member can be brought into contact with the copy cut paper in a surface shape and press the copy cut paper, the warpage can be surely released. Furthermore, the holding member can also serve as a guide for appropriately guiding the recording medium. Further, since the elastic member can be elastically deformed, the holding member is elastically deformed and escapes as necessary when the recording medium (copy cut paper) is conveyed, so that the resistance to conveyance is not increased more than necessary. Therefore, the pressing member does not damage the copy cut paper with an excessive force, and the pressing member does not cause a paper jam.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a configuration of a bent portion.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing a state before a copy cut sheet to be conveyed passes through a bending portion.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a copy cut sheet is bent while passing through a bending portion.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing how a copy cut sheet is discharged while curling in a conventional thermal printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer device (thermal printer)
6 Paper Feeding Section 13 Separation Block (Guide Member)
15 Thermal head 30 Copy cut paper (paper, recording medium)
41 Convex part 43 Holding member

Claims (6)

A paper feed unit ;
A thermal head for performing thermal recording and come in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium fed from the sheet feeding unit,
A guide surface that contacts the non-recording surface of the recording medium fed from the contact position that contacts the thermal head and guides the conveyance direction of the recording medium intersects the path through which the recording medium is fed from the contact position. A guide member formed as follows :
The equipped with said provided in the guide member bends for bending the recording medium body coming from the thermal head side,
The bent portion is
A convex portion formed so as to protrude toward the recording medium conveyed while being guided by the guide surface downstream of the guide surface in the conveyance direction in the guide member;
The recording medium conveyed while being guided by the guide surface is in contact with the recording surface of the recording medium so as to bend in the direction in which the non-recording surface is inward along the convex portion. A thermal printing apparatus comprising: a pressing member that presses a recording medium . The thermal printing apparatus according to claim 1,
  In the guide member, a groove is formed at a position adjacent to the downstream side of the guide surface with respect to the transport direction,
  The thermal printing apparatus, wherein the convex portion is formed at a boundary portion between the groove and the guide surface. The thermal printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The pressing member is
It has an extending portion that extends toward the downstream side of the conveying direction so as to face the inner surface of the groove, and the protruding portion is only between the extending portion and the inner surface of the groove. A thermal printing apparatus characterized by pressing a recording medium. 4. The thermal printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is formed in a film shape that is elastically deformable. 5. The thermal printing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
The groove has a V-shape with respect to a cross section parallel to the transport direction and perpendicular to the guide surface;
The thermal printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion including the extending portion of the pressing member extends in parallel to a surface closer to the guide surface of the V-shaped inner surface of the groove. The thermal printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The paper feeder is
A recording medium in which one surface is a recording surface and an upper paper coated with carbon ink on the other surface and a lower paper onto which the carbon ink coated on the other surface is transferred is sent out. A thermal printer.

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